ଵିଷ୍ଣୁ ସୂକ୍ତମ୍

ଵିଷ୍ଣୁ ସୂକ୍ତମ୍ celebrates Vishnu as the wide-striding divine power who measures, supports, and illumines the worlds. Its best-known core is the Rigvedic Vishnu hymn, especially Rigveda 1.154, and this Vedic hymn also preserves Taittiriya Samhita and Taittiriya Brahmana passages, as shown by the source notes embedded in the basetxt. The result is a liturgical collection around Vishnu's cosmic strides.

The enduring force of the hymn lies in its central image, ତ୍ରୀଣି ପଦାନି, the three steps or stations: divine order creates habitable space. Vishnu does not merely move through the world; he measures it, stabilizes it, opens room for beings, upholds ଧର୍ମାଣି, and reveals a highest station that seers behold.

The main ideas are Vedic and cosmic: the measuring of earthly realms, the support of the higher seat, the three strides, the "supreme step" of Vishnu, the sweetness found there, and the vigilant seers who keep that vision bright. The hymn can be read devotionally as praise of Lord Vishnu and contemplatively as a meditation on the divine order that gives space, stability, and direction to every being.

Key concepts include ଵିଷ୍ଣୁ, ଉରୁକ୍ରମ, ଉରୁଗାୟ, ପରମଂ ପଦମ୍, ତ୍ରେଧା ଵିଚକ୍ରମାଣଃ, ଧର୍ମାଣି, and the seer's constant seeing. In daily recitation, this hymn trains the mind to ask: what expands life without disorder, what supports the higher goal, and what step should be taken next in alignment with dharma?

ଓଂ-ଵିଁଷ୍ଣୋ॒ର୍ନୁକଂ॑-ଵୀଁ॒ର୍ୟା॑ଣି॒ ପ୍ରଵୋ॑ଚଂ॒ ୟଃ ପାର୍ଥି॑ଵାନି ଵିମ॒ମେ ରାଜାଗ୍ମ୍॑ସି॒ ୟୋ ଅସ୍କ॑ଭାୟ॒ଦୁତ୍ତ॑ରଗ୍ମ୍ ସ॒ଧସ୍ଥଂ॑-ଵିଁଚକ୍ରମା॒ଣସ୍ତ୍ରେ॒ଧୋରୁ॑ଗା॒ୟଃ ॥ 1 (ତୈ. ସଂ. 1.2.13.3)
ଵିଷ୍ଣୋ॑ର॒ରାଟ॑ମସି॒ ଵିଷ୍ଣୋଃ᳚ ପୃ॒ଷ୍ଠମ॑ସି॒ ଵିଷ୍ଣୋଃ॒ ଶ୍ନପ୍ତ୍ରେ᳚ସ୍ଥୋ॒ ଵିଷ୍ଣୋ॒ସ୍ସ୍ୟୂର॑ସି॒ ଵିଷ୍ଣୋ᳚ର୍ଧ୍ରୁ॒ଵମ॑ସି ଵୈଷ୍ଣ॒ଵମ॑ସି॒ ଵିଷ୍ଣ॑ଵେ ତ୍ଵା ॥ 2 (ତୈ. ସଂ. 1.2.13.3)

Meaning (ପଦାର୍ଥ):
ଵିଷ୍ଣୋଃ ଵୀର୍ୟାଣି ପ୍ରଵୋଚମ୍ - I proclaim the heroic powers of Vishnu
ପାର୍ଥିଵାନି ରଜାଂସି ଵିମମେ - he measured out the earthly realms
ଉତ୍ତରଂ ସଧସ୍ଥଂ ଅସ୍କଭାୟତ୍ - he propped up the higher station
ତ୍ରେଧା ଵିଚକ୍ରମାଣଃ - striding in three ways
ଉରୁଗାୟଃ - widely praised, wide-ranging
ଵିଷ୍ଣୋଃ ଅରାଟଂ ଅସି - you are connected with Vishnu's offering or protection
ଵିଷ୍ଣୋଃ ପୃଷ୍ଠଂ ଅସି - you are Vishnu's support or back
ଵୈଷ୍ଣଵଂ ଅସି - you belong to Vishnu
ଵିଷ୍ଣଵେ ତ୍ଵା - you are offered to Vishnu

Translation (ଭାଵାର୍ଥ):
I proclaim the heroic powers of Vishnu, who measured the earthly realms, upheld the higher station, and strode widely in threefold form. The ritual object is consecrated as belonging to Vishnu, supported by Vishnu, made firm by Vishnu, and offered to Vishnu.

Commentary (ଅନୁସଂଧାନ):
ଵୀର୍ୟ here is cosmic capacity: the power to measure, uphold, and open space. ଉରୁଗାୟ suggests both wide praise and wide movement. Vishnu's three strides are not merely motion; they establish habitable order from earth to the higher realm.

The Rigvedic Vishnu hymn makes this the central theme, and later Vaishnava tradition receives the same wide-striding Lord as the sustainer of the universe. In Vedantic reflection, "measuring the worlds" can also indicate the divine intelligence by which all experience has order, law, and direction.

Practically, this mantra asks us to create space for others to live well. A good leader, parent, teacher, or teammate does not crowd every situation with ego; they measure, support, and stabilize the field so others can grow.

ତଦ॑ସ୍ୟ ପ୍ରି॒ୟମ॒ଭିପାଥୋ॑ ଅଶ୍ୟାମ୍ । ନରୋ॒ ୟତ୍ର॑ ଦେଵ॒ୟଵୋ॒ ମଦଂ॑ତି । ଉ॒ରୁ॒କ୍ର॒ମସ୍ୟ॒ ସ ହି ବଂଧୁ॑ରି॒ତ୍ଥା । ଵିଷ୍ଣୋ᳚ ପ॒ଦେ ପ॑ର॒ମେ ମଧ୍ଵ॒ ଉଥ୍ସଃ॑ ॥ 3 (ତୈ. ବ୍ରା. 2.4.6.2)
ପ୍ର ତଦ୍ଵିଷ୍ଣୁ॑-ସ୍ସ୍ତଵତେ ଵୀ॒ର୍ୟା॑ୟ । ମୃ॒ଗୋ ନ ଭୀ॒ମଃ କୁ॑ଚ॒ରୋ ଗି॑ରି॒ଷ୍ଠାଃ । ୟସ୍ୟୋ॒ରୁଷୁ॑ ତ୍ରି॒ଷୁ ଵି॒କ୍ରମ॑ଣେଷୁ । ଅଧି॑କ୍ଷ॒ୟଂତି॒ ଭୁଵ॑ନାନି॒ ଵିଶ୍ଵା᳚ ॥ 4 (ତୈ. ବ୍ରା. 2.4.3.4)

Meaning (ପଦାର୍ଥ):
ତତ୍ ଅସ୍ୟ ପ୍ରିୟଂ ପଥଃ ଅଶ୍ୟାମ୍ - may I reach his beloved path or station
ନରାଃ ଦେଵୟଵଃ ମଦଂତି - God-seeking people rejoice there
ଉରୁକ୍ରମସ୍ୟ ବଂଧୁଃ - that is the bond or relation of the wide-strider
ଵିଷ୍ଣୋଃ ପଦେ ପରମେ - in Vishnu's supreme station
ମଧ୍ଵଃ ଉତ୍ସଃ - a fountain of sweetness
ସ୍ତଵତେ ଵୀର୍ୟାୟ - he is praised for heroic power
ମୃଗଃ ନ ଭୀମଃ - like a formidable roaming beast
ତ୍ରିଷୁ ଵିକ୍ରମଣେଷୁ - in his three strides
ଭୁଵନାନି ଵିଶ୍ଵା ଅଧିକ୍ଷୟଂତି - all worlds dwell within them

Translation (ଭାଵାର୍ଥ):
May I reach Vishnu's beloved path, where God-seeking people rejoice, for in the supreme step of the wide-striding Vishnu there is a fountain of sweetness. Vishnu is praised for his power; in his three vast strides all the worlds find their dwelling.

Commentary (ଅନୁସଂଧାନ):
The phrase ଵିଷ୍ଣୋଃ ପରମଂ ପଦମ୍ is central. ପଦମ୍ is a step, station, trace, or goal. The highest step is not barren transcendence; it is described as ମଧ୍ଵଃ ଉତ୍ସଃ, a spring of sweetness.

The Rigvedic hymn presents Vishnu's steps as cosmic space and also as an aspirational goal for seers. Later Vedanta can read this as the highest realization where the seeker recognizes the sustaining Lord as the ground of all worlds. The Gita's ପରମଂ ଧାମ language resonates with this vision of supreme divine station.

In life, the "highest step" becomes the highest standard that guides lower actions. Keep one clear noble aim: truth, service, God-remembrance, or liberation. Without a high step, daily work becomes scattered; with it, even small duties become connected.

ପ॒ରୋ ମାତ୍ର॑ୟା ତ॒ନୁଵା॑ ଵୃଧାନ । ନ ତେ॑ ମହି॒ତ୍ଵମନ୍ଵ॑ଶ୍ନୁଵଂତି । ଉ॒ଭେ ତେ॑ ଵିଦ୍ମ॒ ରଜ॑ସୀ ପୃଥି॒ଵ୍ୟା ଵିଷ୍ଣୋ॑ ଦେଵ॒ତ୍ଵମ୍ । ପ॒ର॒ମସ୍ୟ॑ ଵିଥ୍ସେ ॥ 5 (ତୈ. ବ୍ରା. 2.8.3.2)

Meaning (ପଦାର୍ଥ):
ପରୋ ମାତ୍ରୟା - beyond measure
ତନୁଵା ଵୃଧାନ - expanding through form
ନ ତେ ମହିତ୍ଵଂ ଅନୁ ଅଶ୍ନୁଵଂତି - they do not reach your greatness
ଉଭେ ରଜସୀ - both realms, heaven and earth
ପୃଥିଵ୍ୟାଃ - of the earthly expanse
ଵିଷ୍ଣୋ ଦେଵତ୍ଵମ୍ - O Vishnu, your divine nature
ପରମସ୍ୟ ଵିତ୍ସେ - you know the supreme

Translation (ଭାଵାର୍ଥ):
O Vishnu, growing through your manifestation yet beyond all measure, beings do not reach the full extent of your greatness. You know both realms and the supreme divine reality.

Commentary (ଅନୁସଂଧାନ):
ପରୋ ମାତ୍ରୟା means beyond measure. The hymn does not reduce Vishnu to a measurable cosmic function. Even while he manifests through form, his greatness exceeds conceptual grasp.

This supports the Upanishadic pattern: the divine is approached through symbols and functions, but cannot be exhausted by them. Shankara often warns that name and form are teaching aids; the highest reality is not captured by finite predicates.

For practical life, respect what exceeds your measurement. In relationships, organizations, and spiritual practice, humility prevents premature judgment. Good understanding begins when we know the limits of our current understanding.

ଵିଚ॑କ୍ରମେ ପୃଥି॒ଵୀମେ॒ଷ ଏ॒ତାମ୍ । କ୍ଷେତ୍ରା॑ୟ॒ ଵିଷ୍ଣୁ॒ର୍ମନୁ॑ଷେ ଦଶ॒ସ୍ୟନ୍ନ୍ । ଧ୍ରୁ॒ଵାସୋ॑ ଅସ୍ୟ କୀ॒ରୟୋ॒ ଜନା॑ସଃ । ଊ॒ରୁ॒କ୍ଷି॒ତିଗ୍ମ୍ ସୁ॒ଜନି॑ମାଚକାର ॥ 6 (ତୈ. ବ୍ରା. 2.4.3.5)
ତ୍ରିର୍ଦେ॒ଵଃ ପୃ॑ଥି॒ଵୀମେ॒ଷ ଏ॒ତାମ୍ । ଵିଚ॑କ୍ରମେ ଶ॒ତର୍ଚ॑ସଂ ମହି॒ତ୍ଵା । ପ୍ର ଵିଷ୍ଣୁ॑ରସ୍ତୁ ତ॒ଵସ॒ସ୍ତଵୀ॑ୟାନ୍ । ତ୍ଵେ॒ଷଗ୍ଗ୍ ହ୍ୟ॑ସ୍ୟ॒ ସ୍ଥଵି॑ରସ୍ୟ॒ ନାମ॑ ॥ 7 (ତୈ. ବ୍ରା. 2.4.3.5)

Meaning (ପଦାର୍ଥ):
ଵିଚକ୍ରମେ ପୃଥିଵୀଂ ଏତାମ୍ - he strode across this earth
କ୍ଷେତ୍ରାୟ ମନୁଷେ ଦଶସ୍ୟନ୍ - granting a field for human life
ଧ୍ରୁଵାସଃ କୀରୟଃ ଜନାସଃ - steady praising people
ଉରୁକ୍ଷିତିଂ ସୁଜନିଂ ଆଚକାର - he made a wide dwelling and good birth
ତ୍ରିଃ ଦେଵଃ ଵିଚକ୍ରମେ - the deity strode three times
ମହିତ୍ଵା - by greatness
ତଵସା ସ୍ତଵୀୟାନ୍ - greater through strength
ସ୍ଥଵିରସ୍ୟ ନାମ - the mighty, firm name

Translation (ଭାଵାର୍ଥ):
Vishnu strode across this earth, granting a field for human life and making a wide dwelling fit for noble birth. The divine one strode three times in greatness; may mighty Vishnu be strong for us, for his name is firm and powerful.

Commentary (ଅନୁସଂଧାନ):
କ୍ଷେତ୍ର is a field, and here it is the field of human life. Vishnu's stride creates room for ମନୁଷ, the human being, to live, act, and grow. Wide space is a divine gift, but it must be used well.

The Gita later uses କ୍ଷେତ୍ର as the body-field in chapter 13, where knowledge is knowing both field and knower. This Vedic mantra prepares the imagination: life is a field granted by divine order, not private property for careless use.

Use your field responsibly. Your home, body, workplace, and community are all "earth" given for dharma. Keep them clean, spacious, and conducive to good birth in the sense of fresh noble actions.

ଅତୋ॑ ଦେ॒ଵା ଅ॑ଵଂତୁ ନୋ॒ ୟତୋ॒ ଵିଷ୍ଣୁ॑ର୍ଵିଚକ୍ର॒ମେ । ପୃ॒ଥି॒ଵ୍ୟା-ସ୍ସ॒ପ୍ତଧାମ॑ଭିଃ । ଇ॒ଦଂ-ଵିଁଷ୍ଣୁ॒ର୍ଵିଚ॑କ୍ରମେ ତ୍ରେ॒ଧା ନିଦ॑ଧେ ପ॒ଦମ୍ । ସମୂ॑ଢମସ୍ୟ ପାଗ୍ମ୍ ସୁ॒ରେ ॥ ତ୍ରୀଣି॑ ପ॒ଦା ଵିଚ॑କ୍ରମେ॒ ଵିଷ୍ଣୁ॑ର୍ଗୋ॒ପା ଅଦା᳚ଭ୍ୟଃ । ତତୋ॒ ଧର୍ମା॑ଣି ଧା॒ରୟନ୍॑ । ଵିଷ୍ଣୋଃ॒ କର୍ମା॑ଣି ପଶ୍ୟତ॒ ୟତୋ᳚ ଵ୍ର॒ତାନି॑ ପସ୍ପ॒ଶେ । ଇଂଦ୍ର॑ସ୍ୟ॒ ୟୁଜ୍ୟ॒ସ୍ସଖା᳚ ॥

Meaning (ପଦାର୍ଥ):
ଅତଃ ଦେଵାଃ ଅଵଂତୁ ନଃ - from there, may the gods protect us
ୟତଃ ଵିଷ୍ଣୁଃ ଵିଚକ୍ରମେ - from where Vishnu strode forth
ପୃଥିଵ୍ୟାଃ ସପ୍ତ-ଧାମଭିଃ - with the seven stations of earth
ତ୍ରେଧା ପଦଂ ନିଦଧେ - he placed his step in threefold form
ସମୂଢଂ ଅସ୍ୟ ପାଂସୁରେ - hidden in its dust or track
ଵିଷ୍ଣୁଃ ଗୋପା ଅଦାଭ୍ୟଃ - Vishnu, guardian, not to be deceived
ଧର୍ମାଣି ଧାରୟନ୍ - upholding the laws and orders
ଵିଷ୍ଣୋଃ କର୍ମାଣି ପଶ୍ୟତ - behold the works of Vishnu
ଵ୍ରତାନି ପସ୍ପଶେ - he has touched or established sacred vows
ଇଂଦ୍ରସ୍ୟ ୟୁଜ୍ୟଃ ସଖା - the fitting friend of Indra

Translation (ଭାଵାର୍ଥ):
May the gods protect us from the realm from which Vishnu strode. Vishnu placed his step threefold, hidden even in the dust of the earth. Behold Vishnu's works: as guardian, undefeated, he upholds dharmas and establishes sacred vows, the worthy friend of Indra.

Commentary (ଅନୁସଂଧାନ):
This section explicitly joins Vishnu's strides with ଧର୍ମ and ଵ୍ରତ. The divine step is not random expansion; it creates order, obligation, and protected space. ଗୋପା means guardian, one who watches and preserves.

The Vedic image anticipates later Vishnu as preserver. In Vedantic terms, the cosmic order is not merely physical law but moral and spiritual intelligibility. The Gita's ଧର୍ମ-ସଂସ୍ଥାପନ theme stands in continuity with this preserving function.

Daily application is direct: do not ask for protection while ignoring order. Keep vows, honor commitments, and protect the vulnerable spaces entrusted to you. Vishnu's path is wide, but it is not lawless.

ତଦ୍ଵିଷ୍ଣୋଃ᳚ ପର॒ମଂ ପ॒ଦଗ୍ମ୍ ସଦା॑ ପଶ୍ୟଂତି ସୂ॒ରୟଃ॑ । ଦି॒ଵୀଵ॒ ଚକ୍ଷୁ॒ରାତ॑ତମ୍ । ତଦ୍ଵିପ୍ରା॑ସୋ ଵିପ॒ନ୍ୟଵୋ॑ ଜାଗୃ॒ଵାଗ୍ମ୍ ସ॒ସ୍ସମିଂ॑ଧତେ । ଵିଷ୍ଣୋ॒ର୍ୟତ୍ପ॑ର॒ମଂ ପ॒ଦମ୍ । ପର୍ୟା᳚ପ୍ତ୍ୟା॒ ଅନଂ॑ତରାୟାୟ॒ ସର୍ଵ॑ସ୍ତୋମୋଽତି ରା॒ତ୍ର ଉ॑ତ୍ତ॒ମ ମହ॑ର୍ଭଵତି ସର୍ଵ॒ସ୍ୟାପ୍ତ୍ୟୈ॒ ସର୍ଵ॑ସ୍ୟ॒ ଜିତ୍ତ୍ୟୈ॒ ସର୍ଵ॑ମେ॒ଵ ତେନା᳚ପ୍ନୋତି॒ ସର୍ଵଂ॑ ଜୟତି ॥

Meaning (ପଦାର୍ଥ):
ତତ୍ ଵିଷ୍ଣୋଃ ପରମଂ ପଦମ୍ - that supreme station of Vishnu
ସଦା ପଶ୍ୟଂତି ସୂରୟଃ - the seers always behold
ଦିଵୀ ଇଵ ଚକ୍ଷୁଃ ଆତତମ୍ - like an eye spread in heaven
ଵିପ୍ରାସଃ ଵିପନ୍ୟଵଃ - inspired, discerning sages
ଜାଗୃଵାଂସଃ ସମିଂଧତେ - wakeful ones kindle or illumine it
ପର୍ୟାପ୍ତ୍ୟୈ - for completeness
ଅନଂତରାୟାୟ - for freedom from obstruction
ସର୍ଵସ୍ୟ ଆପ୍ତ୍ୟୈ - for attainment of all
ସର୍ଵସ୍ୟ ଜିତ୍ୟୈ - for victory over all

Translation (ଭାଵାର୍ଥ):
The seers ever behold that supreme station of Vishnu, like an eye extended in heaven. The inspired and wakeful sages kindle awareness of Vishnu's supreme step. Through this completeness and freedom from obstruction, one attains and conquers all that is truly to be attained.

Commentary (ଅନୁସଂଧାନ):
The seeing of ସୂରୟଃ, the illumined ones, is not occasional. ସଦା ପଶ୍ୟଂତି means steady vision. The supreme station is compared to a heavenly eye: open, vast, and illuminating.

This line is beloved in Vaishnava tradition and also fits Vedantic contemplation. The "highest step" can be adored as Vishnu's transcendent abode and contemplated as the ever-visible reality to purified insight. Wakefulness, ଜାଗୃଵତ୍, is the condition for such seeing.

Practically, keep the highest goal visible. A person becomes what they repeatedly behold: resentment, distraction, or the supreme ideal. Set up your environment so that noble sight is frequent: study, worship, good company, and reminders of duty.

ଓଂ ଶାଂତିଃ॒ ଶାଂତିଃ॒ ଶାଂତିଃ॑ ॥

Meaning (ପଦାର୍ଥ):
ଓଂ - sacred syllable
ଶାଂତିଃ - peace
ତ୍ରିଵାରଂ - repeated three times

Translation (ଭାଵାର୍ଥ):
May peace settle at every level: in divine forces, in the outer world, and within the mind, so that the vision of Vishnu's supreme step may remain unobstructed.

Commentary (ଅନୁସଂଧାନ):
After contemplating ଉରୁକ୍ରମ, the wide stride, and ପରମଂ ପଦମ୍, the supreme step, the hymn closes with peace. The supreme step must quiet the mind, not inflate spiritual ambition.

Vedic recitation places ଶାଂତିଃ at the end so the fruit of praise settles into body, speech, mind, and environment. In Vaishnava and Vedantic reading, preservation is not only cosmic maintenance but the peace in which dharma can be practiced steadily.

In daily life, end achievement with calm gratitude. Wide action without peace becomes exhaustion; wide action rooted in peace becomes service.

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